Riyaz Patel
The EFF in Gauteng says it “abhors the mockery and actions” exhibited by MEC of Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, during a Q&A session at Wednesday’s Legislature sitting.
EFF MPL Azwi Tshitangano asked about the corrective steps Ramokgopa’s department would take to curb the Swine flu outbreak in several townships where pig farmers are operating.
The EFF said the MEC refused to acknowledge the full extent of the outbreak of the swine influenza over the past six months in Gauteng and only limited this outbreak to two areas.
“His denialist, mocking attitude will risk the health and possibly lives of many farmer workers, farmers and citizens,”the EFF said.
“Black pig farmers around townships like Daveyton, Alra Park, Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark are not likely to get intervention with regards to the swine flu outbreak, no thanks to Ramokgopa’s flippant attitude supported by jokes made by his ANC colleagues,” the party added.
Last Saturday, Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza, along with the MECs of affected provinces, set up a task team to urgently address the spread of African swine flu among pig stocks.
Since April, there have been outbreaks of swine flu in North West, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Free State provinces.
The areas currently affected are Daveyton in Gauteng, Delmas and Siyabuswa in Mpumalanga and Marikana in the North West.
The EFF charged that the Life Esidimeni tragedy as well as the Firefighters killed in an unsafe burning government building and the “never-ending crises in GPG departments like Health, Social Development, eGov and others should be red flag that makes the ANC government more alert.”
However, the party said, “His (Ramokgopa’s) attitude demonstrates that the Provincial cabinet remains without a soul and does not care for the safety and well being of the majority people of the province.”
The EFF called on the Provincial Agriculture department to compensate farmers who are directly affected.
